Attaching and concealing means for vehicle-curtains.



F. GRUNDY.

ATTACHING AND CONCEALING MEANS FOR VEHICLE CU RTMNS.

APPLICATION FILED AUGZS. 1913- RENEWEDNOV. 20,19I5.

1L'. GRUNDY.

ATTACHING AND CONCEALING MEANS FOR VEHICLE CURTAINS.

APPUCATIUN man 11116.25. 1913. REuEwio 1101/. 20,1915.

1,166,677. Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHE5T 2.

' m AnaB/VHS meente,

Specification of Letters atent.

.snurnsrnrnivr onction., V

Y inns-Questione?, `oninssnvcrrr, nnvr cansar@ *.arreonrno ann consentirne nrnnns non. versions-CURTAINS.

Patented dan. d, todo.

lpnlication filed August 25, 1913, Serial No. @Sfide .Renewed `i\'l'ove11iber 9.0, 1915. Serial No. 62,541,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be 'it'lanovvn that l, FRANK GRUNDY, a cit'ize'nof the United States, and a resident oferseyCity, in the county of Hudson and Statef New Jersey, have invented a new andj'mproved Attaching and Concealing 'f1-Means for Vehicle-Curtains, of which the following is a fuil, clear, and exact description. f Y r This invention relates to vehicle tops and more especially to an improved attaching `rand concealing means for the curtains thereof.'

Broadly, the'invention comprehends the provisiono'f pockets along the edges of the topiadjacent towhich the curtains are at- 'l'tachedfand designed to be folded or other Wisecornpactly arrangedto be retained in theylpocliets in a relatlvely concealed positionbut in such manner as to he capable of loeingreadily lowered 'when they are desired to be'used.

still further object of the invention is to"'p'rovide la vehicle top with improved pockets orA storingr spaces for the curtains when: in raised and folded conditionfsuch flfpocketsfbeing constructed in combination Withfthe deck or roof commonly known as the topf proper, and the side quarters or with the usual 1ns1de loose lining, and being so y ymounted as to be hidden from vieu7 andthe curtains being so constructed as to be conveiiientlyfolded and retained in the pockets or 4receiving spaces provided therefor.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides more particularly in *thefpeculiar combination and arrangement of parts which will be illustrated as a preferredV embodiment. in the accompanying dravlingsfand described in the claims.

,A v Reference is to he had to the accompany- :fingfdrawings forming a part of this sueciic'atiom in which similar characters of rei?- eiencefindicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in Which-n Figure 1 is a 'perspective view of a vehicle A"top including the frame and top or cover prpernvitli the curtains retained in pockets constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal seci, tional vview of the device shown in Fig. l,

with the curtains" lowered and fastened togetherhut with. fragmentary portion of the-Hanoi" one pocket breiten away to show thernnnner of suspending orettaching the curtains; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sec tional view taken. through the top With'the parts inthe position shown in Fig. l; Fig. fi is a. vertical sectional view of the outer portion of the top shown in Fig. 3 with the looW omitted and With the curtain in lowered position; Fig.l 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken through one of the hows and adjacent portions of the cover and pockets With the curtains folded therein, the parts being broken away and the section being taken immediately above the fastening means for the liaps; Fig. G is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and Fig. is a vertical sectional View of a fragmentary portion oi.2 a vehicle top having an inner lining Which cooperates with the' side .quarters and decir to produce curtain ,receiving spaces or compartments.

in, the drawings, a conventional. form of frame for an automobile or other vehicle top is illustrated, the same having intermediate hows l0 designed for attachment to the body' in the usual manner through the instrumenn telit-y of gooseneclrs or other suitable fasteners, While the front how is indicated 'oy the numeral il and. the rear hovv by .the numeral l2v and are illustrated as plv trated in the form of pads consisting of a closed covering 17 containing cotton or other soft filling 18 which gradually tapers in thickness toward their longitudinal edges. As will be clearly seen from the drawings, these pads are arranged between the cover ing and the bows and besides shaping the top serve to resist Wear at 'their points of Contact with the bows. A11 intermediate curtain 19 and front and rear curtains 2O and 21, respectively, are attached to said longitudinal strips or pads adjacent the lower edges thereof, as by means of button fasteners 22, at spaced distances between the ree' spective bows and also to the hows in 'any desirable way, whereby the Curtains may he ico los

removed if desired. The curtains are desame, there being certain transparent. sec-f tions fr arranged within the area of fthe folds in the curtains() and 21 forming the curtain lights'. The intermediate curtain 19 is provided with longitudinally spaced transparent sections omlights 25 in lieu of the usual continuous lights, the idea being to permit the curtains to be folded intermediate their ends when the sections 23, are folded one upon lthe other. The ends or vertical edges of the curtains are designed to overlap' each other in the manner indicated in Figs. 2 and 6 ofA the drawings, whereby they are fastened by glovefasteners or the like 26 and held in lowered positions, the forward curtain in eachinstance being fitted to overlie the edge of the curtain in rear thereof, whereby the entrance of rai-n, snow or air into the vehicle during the travel of the latter is prevented.

To provide pockets or receiving spaces for the curtains, flaps 27 are' secured to the upper edges of the longitudinal strips or pads, as shown at 28,01 formed therewith to provide a binding, as indicated in Fig. 3 gif the drawings, so that the .lower edges of theliaps will terminate at or near the lower edges of the strips or pads. Coperating with the flaps S27 are relatively narrow flaps or strips 2S) which are carried by the lower edges of the longitudinal strips or pads and which in turn are provided with rotatable button fasteners 30 designed to engage eyelets or openings 31 in the flaps 27 near their free longitudinal edges, thus inclosing the curtains when the latter are folded in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings.

When it is desired to extend or lower the curtains in the manner shown in Figs. 2- and el of the drawings, after the same have been folded and inclosed in the pockets, the fasteners 26 are disengaged. The flaps 27 are then'disengaged from the buttons 30 so that the curtains, which at their points of attachment and suspension from the fasteners 22 and the bows through the medium of a foldable extension 32, are lowered so that the flaps 27 `free vand will hang from the points :28. To prevent this and to add to the attractiveness of the curtains, fasteners 33 secured. to the longitudinal strips or pads near the lower edges oft the latter and normally above and inwardly of the flaps 29 so as to coperate with the eyelets 3l in retaining the flaps 27 toward said longitudinal strips or pads.- It will further be obvious that the parts will occupy a limited space and when assembled in the manner shown in Fig. d oli the drawings, will `be perfectly invisible to an occupant ci the automobile or nieder? the points adjacent to the bows so that they will fit within the pockets. This'is due to "the fact that the curtains overlap each other when they are down and. are thus longer `than the spaces between the respective bows and thereby longer than the pockets which 4are 'equal in length to the lengths of these spaces. It is also apparent that the curtains operate as stiii'ening members when inclosed within the pockets and also serve to distend the sections of the topfrom the bows when the top'is folded or the frame is collapsed and the t-op is down.

In the construction shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing a bow is indicated by the numeral 35, the top or deck by the numeral 36 and the side quarter by the numeral 37, there being the usual pad 18 having a curtain 19 attached thereto in the usual way. In this construction, however, the 'vehicle top is provided with an inner loose lining 88 which in the 4usual construction is attached to the bows. It will be seen that this lining cooperates with the tcp to produce a pocket or curtain receiving space which, afterthe curtain is disposed therein, is closed by a lap 39 .secured to the side quarter or body and detachably connected as shown at 40 to the lower edge of the lining at. each side, thus totally excluding the curtain from view. A conventional manner of fastening the top proper to the bows in the event that the latter are constructed of wood, is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, wherein the same are nailed thereto, as shown at Ll1.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. The combination with the spaced bows forming the frame of an automobile top and a covering therefor; of pads arranged between the covering and bows 'at the side port-ions thereof, flaps secured to Athe upper edges or. the pads between the bows, flaps secured to the lower edges of the pads between the bows, means to detachably connect the flaps, curtains carried by thc pads to he inclosed within pockets :formed by said flaps,

and means to secure the upper' flaps lagainst the pads hen the curtains are lowened.

Q. tlhe combination with a vehicle top including a Yframe and a covering and curtains removably carried thercbeneath; of flaps arranged beneath the covering and designed to overlap cach other to inclosc and retain the' curtains therein, means to detachably conideas?? neet the flaps, and means to detachably connect certain of the flaps to the covering above the curtains so as to hold. said flaps toward the covering when the curtains areA lowered.

3. The combination with a vehicle top'and narrow padded sections attached thereto adjacent theirlongitudinal edges to contact with the usual bows; of curtains attached to `said padded sections near their lower edges, iaps carried by the longitudinal I edges of said sections to form narrow pockets terminating short of the transverse center of the top, and means to connect said `llaps to inclose the curtains when folded,

said means being located at points in horizontal alinement witlrthe points of attachnient of the curtains to the padded sections near the lower edges 'of the pockets whereby said curtains will form additional pads.

4. The combination with a vehicle top and padded casing sections secured to the inner -faces thereof; of bows having transverse dependin` portions providing curved corners adapte to contact with the padded sections, curtains comprising foldable sections attaehed to said padded *sections and divided by longitudinal folding lines with lights arranged within the area of said folds and spaced apart longitudinally on opposite ,sides of the bows,`aps carried by said sections along the edge portions of the latter and adapted when connected to form compartments ot a widthsubstantially equal to the normal width oir the sections oi' the curtains when folded soas to receive the latter and preclude them from View between the bows at the corners of the top and spaced from the center thereof.

5. Au attaching and concealing means for vehicle curtains embodying compartment.- forming members raii'ipeiativc with the. ve-y hicle cover. narrow pads longitudinally of the curved portions of the cover forattachnient of- J[be curtains at their upper edges to the lower edges ol thc pads, and means for closing said compartments to contain the enri'zains `,tht-rein, said means embodying flexible strips forming 'flaps carried by the cover short of ils longitudinal edges to (letacbablv engage. said compartincnt-itorming.

nicinbers.

(3. 'llie combination with a vehicle top including a iraiiic for a sei-ics of transverse bows. a rover and loldable sectional curtain` letaebablv carried from beneath the op adiarent its longitudinal edges arto the portions of the curtains for engaging the` other sections to hold them toward the cover.

7. The combination with a vehicle top including a frame, a covering therefor having narrow longitudinal stripsat the corners and foldable curtains comprising a plurality of sections and means carried by the strips near thebottom edges thereof to detachably connect the curtains thereto; of iaps arranged beneath the covering and designed to overlap each other to inclose and retain the curtains therein, means to detachably connect the iiaps and means to' detachably connect certain of the flaps to the covering above the curtains so as to hold said flaps toward' the covering when the curtains are lowered.

S. The combination with a vehicle top including a frame, a covering therefor having lnarrow longitudinal strips at the corners and foldable curtains comprising a plurality of 'sections and means carried by the strips near the bottoni edges thereof to detachablv connect the curtains thereto, said curtains having narrow. attaching portions dependingfrom the attaching means; of liaps arranged beneath the covering and designed to overlap each other to inclose and retain the curtains therein and means to detacliably connect the flaps when the curtains are folded and permitting the curtains-` to drop between the iaps when they are lowered.

9. The combination with a vehicle top, a curtain detachably carried thereby and a section secured to the'inner face of said top and terminating at a spaced distance vthe point .of attachment of the curtain for;7

connecting the top and section to form a lpocket to inclose and conform to the width of the curtain when the latter is folded therein.

1i. The, 'combination with a vehicle top and padded casing sections secured Ato the inner tacesthereof; of bows having transverse depending portions providing curved corners adapted to contact with the padded sections, curtains, flaps carried by said sec` tions along the edge portions of the latter and adapted when connected to form conipartinents of a width substantially equal fo the Anormal width of the sections of the curtains when folded. so as to receive the latter and preclude them from view between the bows at the corners of the top and spaced. from the center thereof.

12. The Acombination with a vehicle top Vincluding pivoted bows and a covering therefor;- of longitudinal strips along the inner faces of the covering outwardly ofthe bows and adjacentl to the bent portions of the latter, button `|`fasteners carried by said strips adjacent to their lower edges at spaced peints longitudinally, curtains adapted to be suspended therefrom, said curtains hav ing narrow upwardly extending foldable parts at their upper edges removably connected to the stripsythrough the medium of said fasteners, means carried by the strips for in'closing the curtains -and means for connecting the vertical edges of the curtains in overlapped relation to the bows.V

i3.' The combination with a vehicle top including pivoted. bows and a covering therefor; of longitudinal strips along the inner faces of the covering outwardly of the bows and adjacent to the bent portions of the latter, button fasteners carried by said strips `adjacent to their lower edges., at spaced points longitudinally, curtains below said strips, said curtains having narrow upwardly extending foldable partsat their upper edges removably connected -to the strips through the' medium of said fasteners and means carried by the strips for inclosing the curtains.

le. Thecombination with a vehicle top including framefor a series of transverse bows, a. cover, foldable sectional curtains and means whereby-said curtains are detachably carried from beneath the top adjacent its longitudinal edges and the upper longitudinal edges of the curtains, said attaching means of the curtain being immovable with respect thereto; of sections coperative withthe cover tov produce spaces between lbows to receive the curtains when folded and cover means coperating with the sec tions to inclose and exclude the curtains from View when received in said spaces, said cover means also supporting the curtains in the last naine'd position. i

1G. The combination with a vehicle top including a frame and a covering therefor; of curtains detachably carried by said covering-and comprising sections adapted to be folded vertically for raising and lowering the same, sections beneath said top and ter minating short of the bottom edges of the covering and means for connecting the lower edges of the sections and covering at spaced distances from the bottom edge of the latter and inwardly thereof to form spaces to re ceive the curtains when folded and adapted to permit the latter to be lowered when the sections are disengaged, whereby the cur tains will hang between the covering and sections. i A

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK GRUNDY.

Witnesses vdonn E. Birnen, 'PHILIP l). RoLLHAUs. 

